MGM’s ‘WarGames’ reboot finds director and writer

MGM’s upcoming reboot of 1983’s WarGames has found both a director and a screenwriter. Deadline reports that Dean Israelite is in talks to helm the project and Arash Amiel is set to write the script.

The original film starred Matthew Broderick as a teenager who unwittingly sets the world on a course for nuclear war when he hacks into a supercomputer. Ally Sheedy costarred in the John Badham-directed thriller. There is no news about the plot of the reboot.

According to SlashFilm, MGM’s shortlist for the male lead includes The Fault in our Stars’ Ansel Elgort and Mud’s Tye Sheridan.

Israelite’s directing debut is the forthcoming sci-fi thriller Project Almanac, which was delayed for release until January 2015. Amiel’s recent work includes the Nicole Kidman starrer Grace of Monaco.

Israelite and Amiel are not the first ones to fill their respective roles in this production. The Wrap reported that Seth Gordon was originally attached to direct the film. As for the script, Zak Penn and Noah Oppenheim wrote previous drafts before Amiel was hired.